| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| put the kibosh on |
prevent, stop
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The manager put the kibosh on our dental plan. He said no.
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| put the right spin on it |
say it in a diplomatic way, bafflegab, doctor it, spin doctor
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Don't say it's lost. Say it's been misplaced. Put the right spin on it!
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| put them up |
put your hands up, stick them up
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The outlaw drew his gun, saying, "Put 'em up, folks, or I'll shoot."
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| put things in perspective |
see things as they are, see the actual size
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A few days after the flood, I was able to put things in perspective.
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| put to bed (print media) |
put in a box when it is ready to print
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The editor always checks the paper before he puts it to bed.
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| put to death |
killed, shot, hanged, put down
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If a soldier deserted the army he was put to death.
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| put to rest |
not think or worry about it any more
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It's time we put to rest our quarrel over Dad's will.
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| put to shame |
defeated very badly, feel ashamed of losing
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Our baseball team was put to shame by the Cubans: 11-0.
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| put to the test |
be tested, be challenged
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Your computer skills will be put to the test in your new position.
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| put too fine a point on |
be too precise, split hairs
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If you want to put too fine a point on it, the color is actually russet.
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